Do you have any single rooms available? It will not allow me to select the option. I am only interested if I can pay for a Single room.

Our Northern Spain Explorer tour was discontinued last year and we do not have any departures scheduled for this tour.

can I please ask the age ranges on this tour and how many solo travelers there are. Also does this start in Madrid or Bilbao? What is the difference between this trip and the northern Spain explorer (new)???

We would happy to let you know the demographics of the tour, can you please confirm which departure date you are considering? We do only have 1 itinerary for this tour and it starts in Bilbao and ends in Barcelona.

How much is single supplement? Also is this tour done through a private coach or trains?

The solo supplement on this tour is $840.00 AUD. We currently do have solo room availability on the 19 October departure, which is good news. Explore are a small group tour operator, which means we use mostly our own private vehicle (minivan) and sometimes some public transport like trains or taxi's - and your tour leader is with you at all times throughout the itinerary.

We were hoping to do a northern Spain tour for 9 or 10 days. There are 4 adults in our family and very keen to see all North of Madrid and down to Barcelona.

Due to the size and the amount of cities to see in Spain, a 10 day tour would not cover all of Spain. However, we would have these tours here beginning in Madrid on August 10th.

Do all of the hotels have working air conditioning? I must have AC for medical reasons.

During this tour, we spend four nights in comfortable-grade hotels and four nights in premium-grade hotels. Accommodation in Spain is generally good and you can expect to have all of the usual amenities. We stay in single and twin rooms equipped with air conditioning, WiFi and en-suite bathrooms. Some hotels will have extra amenities such as a restaurant or bar or a swimming pool.

Departure dates for April 2025? Solo traveller?

We will have 2025 probably at the end of May. 13 Oct 2024 departure is available to book, single room is also available.

Any late October or November dates for this tour?

Do any other tours of northern Spain operate in November before 17 th or after 26th. Do any other tours of Spain operate from Barcelona round trip or Barcelona to Madrid in these date periods? I m particularly interested in slow pace tours.

is this tour confirmed to run on these dates Saturday, March 18th, 2023 to Sunday, March 26th, 2023?

The 18 March - 26 March - is a Guaranteed departure with 5 passengers confirmed.

Reviews mention hiking and cycling; neither seem to be the focus of this tour as described. How extensive is the walking/hiking? It does not list many optional excursions - are there any for budgeting purposes?

This trip isn't a walking/hiking trip. It's a discovery trip. Day 1: No walking/ hiking. Day 2: 9:30 Start town walk from the hotel - 14:00 End of walk and free time. Day 3: No walking, train ride. Day 4: Walk to bus station. Public bus to San Sebastian. Walking tour (2-3hrs) of San Sebastian. Day 5: Walk into town centre for lunch. Day 6: Walk 2-3km along Camino after bus ride and Zaragoza early evening stroll. Day 7: Afternoon orientation walk (2-3hrs) in old town. Day 8: Walking tour with Sagrada Familia visit (1.5hrs) then walk to Plaza España. Day 9: Tour ends after breakfast. You can opt out if any activity is not suitable for you.

Northern Spain Explorer

8 days

•

From Bilbao to Barcelona

4.5 (17 reviews)

View all
Excellent food to sample. We love Spain, a good sample of cities and small towns to experience the culture and history.
Linda•traveled in October5.0
View all

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Platinum Operator: Explore!
City & Culture: Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 10 - 16
Ages 16+

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Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Bilbao
Bilbao
Accommodation
Hotel 4* (Hotel Barcelo Nervion (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Visit Guggenheim Museum (open until 7pm)
Landmarks
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Day 2
Bilbao to San Sebastian
Bilbao to San Sebastian
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Relaxed lunch of pintxos (Basque tapas) in San Sebastian)
Accommodation
Hotel 4* (Hotel Barcelo Nervion (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit local fishery in Getaria to learn about traditional anchovy canning and taste samples
- Walk to Monte Urgull for sweeping coastal views
- Explore San Sebastian old town and pintxos bars
- Included lunch of pintxos in San Sebastian
Optional Activities
- Stroll La Concha promenade
- Relax on the beach
- Take funicular up Monte Igueldo for scenic lookout
Landmarks
Getaria
Monte Urgull
San Sebastian Old Town
La Concha Promenade
Monte Igueldo
Day 3
Bilbao to Pamplona
Bilbao to Pamplona
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Laguardia, likely featuring local Rioja wines)
Accommodation
Hotel 4* (Hotel Maissonave (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit local bodega in La Rioja Alavesa
- Tour wine cellars and see production line at work
- Wine tasting of red and white wines
- Explore medieval village of Laguardia
- Visit Church of Saint Mary of Eunate
- Walk two-to-three kilometre section of Camino de Santiago from Obanos to Puente La Reina
Landmarks
La Rioja Alavesa
Laguardia
Church of Saint Mary of Eunate
Obanos
Puente La Reina
Camino de Santiago
Day 4
Pamplona to Zaragoza
Pamplona to Zaragoza
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 4* (Hotel Catalonia El Pilar (or similar))
Included Activities
- Food tour of Pamplona with local expert
- Visit central market and sample regional cheeses and cured meats
- Orientation walk in Zaragoza
- Visit El Pilar Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Final sightseeing in Pamplona
Landmarks
Pamplona Central Market
El Pilar Cathedral
Day 5
Zaragoza to Montserrat
Zaragoza to Montserrat
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Hotel Abad Cisneros (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit working chocolate factory in Agramunt
- Learn about traditional chocolate production and hand-wrapping
- Taste chocolate with churros
- Ride rack railway up Montserrat
- Explore Benedictine abbey at Montserrat
Landmarks
Agramunt
Montserrat
Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat
Day 6
Montserrat to Barcelona
Montserrat to Barcelona
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Amrey Sant Pau (or similar))
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Gothic Quarter
- Walking tour of El Born
- Walking tour of Barceloneta seaside district
- Visit historic food markets
- Introduction to Catalan specialties
Optional Activities
- Afternoon self-exploration in Barcelona
Landmarks
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic)
El Born
Barceloneta
Day 7
Barcelona
Barcelona
Meals
Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner featuring prepared paella)
Accommodation
Hotel 3* (Amrey Sant Pau (or similar))
Included Activities
- Hands-on paella-making class
- Farewell dinner featuring the prepared paella
Optional Activities
- Visit Gaudí's Park Güell (pre-booking recommended)
- Visit Sagrada Familia (pre-booking recommended)
Landmarks
Park Güell
Sagrada Familia
Day 8
Barcelona
Barcelona
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Landmarks
Getaria
Monte Urgull
San Sebastian Old Town
La Concha Promenade
Monte Igueldo

Landmarks
La Rioja Alavesa
Laguardia
Church of Saint Mary of Eunate
Obanos
Puente La Reina
Camino de Santiago

Landmarks
Pamplona Central Market
El Pilar Cathedral

Landmarks
Agramunt
Montserrat
Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat

Landmarks
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic)
El Born
Barceloneta

Landmarks
Park Güell
Sagrada Familia

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Hotel Barcelo Nervion (or similar)
Hotel 4*
Days 1, 2
Hotel Maissonave (or similar)
Hotel 4*
day 3
Hotel Catalonia El Pilar (or similar)
Hotel 4*
day 4
Hotel Abad Cisneros (or similar)
Hotel 3*
day 5
Amrey Sant Pau (or similar)
Hotel 3*
Days 6, 7

All accommodations are subject to change

Operated by

Explore!

Platinum Operator

Rating: 4.5 (11,880 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 68%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

4.5

Overall rating based on 17 Reviews

Itinerary
4.3
Transport
4.1
Guide
4.9
Accommodation
4.4
Food
4.4
Tour Operator
4.5

Sonja4.3•May 2025
Sant Pau Hospital Barcelona. Montserrat, we needed a few more hours there, it would have been nice to arrive an hour...
Show more
Traveled in April 2025
Review collected by Explore!
Marianne4.8•June 2025
Too many to mention but Montserrat was quite special when we were up there in the evening after all the other...
Show more
Traveled in June 2025
Review collected by Explore!
Diana4.7•June 2025
Olite palace, zaragoza and montserrat
Traveled in June 2025
Review collected by Explore!
Eileen5.0•September 2025
Tour of Sagrada Familia with an enthusiastic local guide. The hotels used on this trip were well above the usual...
Show more
Traveled in September 2025
Review collected by Explore!
Helen4.5•March 2025
Bilbao. Sagrada Familia. Anchovy picnic on the beach.
Traveled in October 2025
Review collected by Explore!
Keith5.0•September 2025
This was my first tour, having always traveled solo, and I was pleasantly surprised. The group size of 6 was perfect...
This was my first tour, having always traveled solo, and I was pleasantly surprised. The group size of 6 was perfect for being able to develop close friendships and having all the lodging and transportation taken care of was so welcome. Lastly, the guide, Renske, is truly a natural. I don't think she could have been any better, throughout the trip. She was always in good spirits, and would go out of her way to answer questions, even researching when she didn't know the answer. Top notch all around!Show more
Traveled in September 2025
Reply from: Explore!
Thank you for taking the time to leave such wonderful feedback. We are so glad your first group tour was such a positive experience and that your Tour Leader Renske made it extra special. We hope this is the first of many adventures with us.
Show more
Liz4.0•March 2023
Barcelona was magical. I knew I'd be interested but I was blown over. La Sagrada Familia is like something out of a...
Show more
Traveled in March 2023
Review collected by Explore!
Barbra4.3•April 2023
Visiting the Guggenheim Bilbao and exploring the tiny streets of LaGuardia
Traveled in March 2023
Review collected by Explore!
Ljiljana4.3•May 2023
I loved it all, especially Bilbao and secrada famillua in Barcelona!
Traveled in April 2023
Review collected by Explore!
Robert4.8•July 2023
The talk about the church door in Laguardia. The amazing variety of pinches. The food in San Sebastian especially....
Show more
Traveled in July 2023
Review collected by Explore!

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

K
Kim
Asked on August 11th, 2026
Do you have any single rooms available? It will not allow me to select the option. I am only interested if I can pay for a Single room.
Accommodation
Single supplement
- Explore!Operator•Written August 2026
  Our Northern Spain Explorer tour was discontinued last year and we do not have any departures scheduled for this tour.
S
Steve
Asked on September 28th, 2025
can I please ask the age ranges on this tour and how many solo travelers there are. Also does this start in Madrid or Bilbao? What is the difference between this trip and the northern Spain explorer (new)???
Age Range
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written September 2025
  We would happy to let you know the demographics of the tour, can you please confirm which departure date you are considering? We do only have 1 itinerary for this tour and it starts in Bilbao and ends in Barcelona.
S
Shannon
Asked on July 3rd, 2025
How much is single supplement? Also is this tour done through a private coach or trains?
Single supplement
Transport
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2025
  The solo supplement on this tour is $840.00 AUD. We currently do have solo room availability on the 19 October departure, which is good news. Explore are a small group tour operator, which means we use mostly our own private vehicle (minivan) and sometimes some public transport like trains or taxi's - and your tour leader is with you at all times throughout the itinerary.
B
Barry
Asked on April 21st, 2025
We were hoping to do a northern Spain tour for 9 or 10 days. There are 4 adults in our family and very keen to see all North of Madrid and down to Barcelona.
Group size
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2025
  Due to the size and the amount of cities to see in Spain, a 10 day tour would not cover all of Spain. However, we would have these tours here beginning in Madrid on August 10th.
J
John
Asked on December 2nd, 2024
Do all of the hotels have working air conditioning? I must have AC for medical reasons.
Accommodation
- Explore!Operator•Written December 2024
  During this tour, we spend four nights in comfortable-grade hotels and four nights in premium-grade hotels. Accommodation in Spain is generally good and you can expect to have all of the usual amenities. We stay in single and twin rooms equipped with air conditioning, WiFi and en-suite bathrooms. Some hotels will have extra amenities such as a restaurant or bar or a swimming pool.
D
Dana
Asked on April 20th, 2024
Departure dates for April 2025? Solo traveller?
Single supplement
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
  We will have 2025 probably at the end of May. 13 Oct 2024 departure is available to book, single room is also available.
- D
  Dana
  Traveler•Written April 2024
  Is this date Guaranteed to go?
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
  We don't have 2025 dates yet. And in most cases we start running this tour in May only so I'm afraid we won't have any early April departure.
M
Morgan
Asked on January 4th, 2024
Any late October or November dates for this tour?
Tour Details
- M
  Morgan
  Traveler•Written January 2024
  Do any other tours of northern Spain operate in November before 17 th or after 26th. Do any other tours of Spain operate from Barcelona round trip or Barcelona to Madrid in these date periods? I m particularly interested in slow pace tours.
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2024
  Our other Spain trip which covers Barcelona and Madrid is a trip combined with exploring Portugal. Again here the last departure date for this trip is 19 October 2024. This trip is called "Spain and Portugal Iberian Explorer".
N
Nancy
Asked on February 20th, 2023
is this tour confirmed to run on these dates Saturday, March 18th, 2023 to Sunday, March 26th, 2023?
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written February 2023
  The 18 March - 26 March - is a Guaranteed departure with 5 passengers confirmed.
B
Ben
Asked on July 10th, 2022
Reviews mention hiking and cycling; neither seem to be the focus of this tour as described. How extensive is the walking/hiking? It does not list many optional excursions - are there any for budgeting purposes?
Tour Details
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2022
  This trip isn't a walking/hiking trip. It's a discovery trip. Day 1: No walking/ hiking. Day 2: 9:30 Start town walk from the hotel - 14:00 End of walk and free time. Day 3: No walking, train ride. Day 4: Walk to bus station. Public bus to San Sebastian. Walking tour (2-3hrs) of San Sebastian. Day 5: Walk into town centre for lunch. Day 6: Walk 2-3km along Camino after bus ride and Zaragoza early evening stroll. Day 7: Afternoon orientation walk (2-3hrs) in old town. Day 8: Walking tour with Sagrada Familia visit (1.5hrs) then walk to Plaza España. Day 9: Tour ends after breakfast. You can opt out if any activity is not suitable for you.

Good to know

Tour ID: 229591

The practical details for your trip across Spain: money, plugs and flexible ways to pay, all in one place.

Have a question? Chat with a travel expert

Deposit only
Book now with just a 10% deposit. The remaining balance is due 75 days before departure.
€ - Euro
You’ll encounter Euro in Spain.
Plug types C, F
You’ll need an adapter for these sockets in Spain.

Currency
€
Euro
Spain
Plugs & adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, F.
- Type C
  Used in Spain
- Type F
  Used in Spain
Visa
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you stay. We can’t process visas for you, but here’s a quick indication for this trip.
This is only an indication. Visa rules depend on your passport, trip length and purpose. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.
Payment information
Pay now
A 10% deposit
Balance due
75 days before departure
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a 10% deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 75 days before departure, charged automatically to your card. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before January 19th, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
Accepted for Explore! tours
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PayPal
TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation terms may vary per tour. Please check for the full cancellation policy here.
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Insurance
Our travel protection from our award-winning partner, XCover, means you and your travel companions can book with peace of mind knowing there’s protection available in case your trip doesn’t go to plan. At checkout you will be able to select between different options in case you or the tour are eligible for insurance. In case no option is available, you are always able to purchase travel insurance outside of TourRadar.
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Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

What our customers ask about this tour

Deposit only

€ - Euro

Plug types C, F

Currency

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for Explore! tours

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Accessibility

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